A bioeffector is a viable

microorganism A microorganism, or microbe,, ''mikros'', "small") and ''organism'' from the el, ὀργανισμός, ''organismós'', "organism"). It is usually written as a single word but is sometimes hyphenated (''micro-organism''), especially in olde ...

or active natural compound which directly or indirectly affects plant performance (

biofertilizer A biofertilizer is a substance which contains living micro-organisms which, when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of prim ...

), and thus has the potential to reduce

fertilizer A fertilizer (American English) or fertiliser (British English; see spelling differences) is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from ...

and pesticide use in crop production.

Types

Bioeffectors have a direct or indirect effect on plant performance by influencing the functional implementation or activation of biological mechanisms, particularly those interfering with soil-plant-microbe interactions. In contrast to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, the effectiveness of bioeffectors is not based on a substantial direct input of mineral plant nutrients, either in inorganic or organic forms. *Products in use are: ** Microbial residues, ** Composting and fermentation products, ** Plant and algae extracts *Bioeffector-preparations (''bio-agents'') as ready-formulated products are applied: ** with the purpose of stimulating plant growth (bio-stimulants), ** to improve plant nutrient acquisition (bio-fertilizers), ** to protect plants from

pathogens In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a ger ...

and

pests PESTS was an anonymous American activist group formed in 1986 to critique racism, tokenism, and exclusion in the art world. PESTS produced newsletters, posters, and other print material highlighting examples of discrimination in gallery represent ...

( bio-control agents) ** or generally to advance cropping efficiency; they can contain one or more bio-effectors along with other substances” *Well established bioeffectors with documented positive results in the field level are: ** Rhizobia strains for soil or seed inoculation as a prerequisite for symbiotic N2-fixation when establishing new legume species or varieties. ** positive effects of mycorrhiza inoculation for soils with a (temporarily) low potential for natural root mycorrhization. ** sufficient mycorrhization enhances nutrient (P) and water uptake and increases resistance to pathogenic fungi. *Further mechanisms for the positive impact of bioeffectors on plant growth have postulated, promising a high potential for resource preservation due to reduction of fertiliser and pesticide use: ** Active nutrient mobilisation by exudation of acids and carboxylates (e.g. P-mobilisation), ** exudation of micro-nutrient mobilising siderophores/chelates (e.g. Fe³⁺), ** reduction of trace elements from less soluble oxidised to highly soluble reduced forms (e.g. Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, Mn⁴⁺ to Mn²⁺), ** associative/non-symbiotic N₂-fixation, protective antagonism to plant pathogens, ** enhancement of mycorrhizal infection and growth, and stimulating hormonal effects.

Research and Public Dissemination

Under the Acronym ''Biofector'' the European Union supports the Research of Bioeffectors under the leadership of the

University of Hohenheim The University of Hohenheim (german: Universität Hohenheim) is a campus university located in the south of Stuttgart, Germany. Founded in 1818, it is Stuttgart's oldest university. Its primary areas of specialisation had traditionally bee ...

. Coordinator Guenter Neumann, Projectmembers: Jiří Balík, Borbala Biro,

Karl Fritz Lauer Karl Fritz Lauer (11 April 1938 – 5 June 2018) was a Romanian-German agricultural scientist in phytopathology and herbology. Biography Lauer was born son of a German teacher and vice-notary in Banat, his older brother was the journalist Hein ...

, Uwe Ludewig, Torsten Müller, Alessandro Piccolo,

Manfred G. Raupp Manfred Gustav Raupp (born 13 November 1941 Staffort, a suburb of Stutensee) is a German agricultural scientist and economist. He is honorary professor of the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague active in the Department of Agricultural Researc ...

Kornelia Smalla Kornelia Smalla (born 1956) is a chemist and biotechnologist at the Julius Kuehn Institute (JKI) in Braunschweig and a university lecturer in microbiology at the Technical University of Braunschweig. Life and work After finishing school, Sma ...

, Pavel Tlustoš,

Markus Weinmann Markus Weinmann (born 31 July 1974, in Worms, Germany, Worms) is an agricultural scientist specialising in the area of Plant Physiology at the University of Hohenheim, and ranks as one of the pioneers of Bioeffector-Research aimed at improving plant ...

. The results of the project will be evaluated by the members of the Association Biostimulants in Agriculture (ABISTA) and provided agriculture for use and EU institutions for the legislative and registration procedures.Webpage Biostimulants Association
/ref> Other Biostimulants Organisations are European Biostimulant Industry Council, International Biocontrol Manufacturers' Association and Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting. See also: * Greenerde

External links

Webpage Biofector

Webpage Association Biostimulants in Agriculture

Webpage Biofector CULS Prague

Webpage Madora Bioeffectors

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bioeffector Agroecology Agronomy Botany . Biology and pharmacology of chemical elements . Crop protection chemicals Ecology Ecological economics Edaphology Fertilizers Organic fertilizers Organic food Recycling Soil Soil improvers Sustainable agriculture Sustainable gardening Sustainable technologies Systems ecology Waste management